NaturePreschool

Song Book

1

Birds Feed the Birds (tune of: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat") Feed, feed, feed the birds In the wintertime When the days are dark and cold Food is hard to find Feed, feed, feed the birds ’Til the spring has come Scatter birdseed on the snow Feeding birds is fun!

Herps (Reptiles & Amphibians) I'm A Little Froggy (tune of: "I'm a Little Teapot") I'm a little froggy, slick and green I once was a tadpole, as you have seen Then I grew some strong legs while swimming about And now I'm a frog, hurray, let's shout "Ribbit!" Little Green Frog (tune of: “Boom Boom Ain’t It Great to Be Crazy”) MMM AHH went the little green frog one day MMM AHH went the little green frog MMM AHH went the little green frog one day And his eyes went MMM AHH, MMM AHH, MMM AHH AHH All the other frogs go FOE DEE OH DEE OH DEE OH FOE DEE OH DEE OH DEE OH FOE DEE OH DEE OH DEE OH All the other frogs go FOE DEE OH DE OH DEE OH But the little green frog goes MMM AHH, MMM AHH, MMM AHH AHH

FLICK FLICK went the little green snake one day FLICK FLICK went the little green snake FLICK FLICK went the little green snake one day And his tail went FLICK FLICK FLICK FLICK FLICK FLICK FLICK

2

Invertebrates (Insects, Spiders, Worms, etc) Ants Go Marching #1 (tune of: "When Johnny Comes Marching Home") The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching one by one, watching ants is lots of fun So let’s all go marching one by one by one **Additional verses: The ants go marching two by two / worker ants have lots to do The ants go marching three by three / the ants all live in a colony The ants go marching four by four / now they’re marching through the door The ants go marching five by five / hey, it’s time to say good bye The Ants Go Marching #2 (With Nature Ideas) (tune of: "When Johnny Comes Marching Home") The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching one by one, the littlest one stops to watch the sun And they all go marching down, into the ground, to get out of the rain Boom, boom, boom **Additional nature verses: some take creative fitting: Two—where the butterfly flew Five—to look in the hive Three—to see the tree Six—find some sticks Four—on the forest floor Seven--???????

The Fuzzy Caterpillar (tune of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider") The fuzzy caterpillar curled up upon a leaf Spun her little chrysalis and then fell fast asleep While she was sleeping, she dreamt that she could fly And later when she woke, she was a butterfly! I am a Cricket (tune of: “You Are My Sunshine”) I am a cricket, a big black cricket I have six legs and two pairs of wings My body’s covered with an exoskeleton And I rub my wings to sing

3

Big Bugs, Small Bugs (tune of “Frere Jacques”) Big bugs, small bugs, big bugs, small bugs See them crawl! On the wall! Creepy, creepy crawling, never, never falling Bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs Thin bugs, round bugs, thin bugs, round bugs See them fly! Way up high! Flying, flying higher, flying, flying lower Bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs Fast bugs, slow bugs, fast bugs, slow bugs See them jump! Down and up! Jumping, jumping, jumping, jumping, jumping, jumping Bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs

Insect Dance (tune of “Frere Jacques”) Crawling beetle, crawling beetle, on the ground, on the ground Crawlng, crawling, crawling, crawling, crawling, crawling All around, all around Hoppng cricket, hopping cricket, in the grass, in the grass Hopping, hopping, hopping, hopping, hopping, hopping Very fast, very fast Busy bumblebee, busy bumblebee, in the air, in the air Flying, flying, flying, flying, flying, flying Buzzing here, buzzing there **Aditional ideas: swimming back swimmer, digging mole The Insect Song (tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”) Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen Six legs, two antennae, and usually some wings Head, thorax, abdomen, compound eyes! (Use appropriate hand signals to indicate insect parts)

4

Never Squash a Bug (tune of: “Row Row Row Your Boat”) Never, never squash a bug They’re Mother Nature’s friends Catch one in a plastic jar Then let it go again Pretty Butterfly (tune of: “Up on the House Top”) First comes a butterfly and lays an egg Out comes the caterpillar with many legs Oh, see the caterpillar spin and spin A little chrysalis to sleep in Oh, oh, oh, look and see Oh, oh, oh, look and see Out of the chrysalis my, oh, my Out comes a pretty butterfly The Spider Song (tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”) Cephalothorax, abdomen, abdomen Cephalothorax, abdomen, abdomen Eight legs, no antennae, two fangs, eight eyes Cephalothorax, abdomen, abdomen **Use appropriate hand signals to indicate spider parts

5

Mammals Bats Eat Bugs Bats eat bugs, they don’t eat people Bats eat bugs, they don’t fly in your hair Bats eat bugs, they eat insects for dinner That’s why they’re flying up there! Grey Squirrel Grey squirrel, grey squirrel shake your bushy tail Grey squirrel, grey squirrel shake your bushy tail Wrinkle up your little nose, put a nut between your toes Grey squirrel, grey squirrel shake your bushy tail My Bunny Hops Over the Meadow (tune of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”) My bunny hops over the meadow My bunny hops over the grass My bunny hops over the meadow Oh boy, can that bunny hop fast Hop back, hop back Hop back, oh bunny to me, to me Hop back, hop back Oh, hop back oh, bunny to me **Alternate standing and squatting with each “b” word Raccoon Climbing a Tree (tune of: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star") Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, Wearing a mask, you can't fool me. Hiding there so I can't see What you're doing in that tree. Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, Wearing a mask, you can't fool me.

Scurry Squirrel (tune of: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star") Scurry squirrels and don't be slow Winter’s coming, don't you know Scamper, scamper all around Bury treasure in the ground Scurry squirrels and don't be slow Winter’s coming, don't you know?

6

Plants and Trees Plant a Little Seed (finger play) I plant a little seed in the cold, cold ground. (Squat down and pretend to plant.) Out comes the yellow sun, big and round. (Put arms above head like sun.) Down come the raindrops soft and slowly (Dancing fingers.) Up comes the flower grow, grow, grow. (Jump as flower emerges.) The Green Plant Song (tune of: “Fish and Chips and Vinegar”) One green leaf, two green leaves, three green leaves, four green leaves, five green leaves, six green leaves, seven seven green leaves Sun, soil, water and air, water and air, water and air Sun, soil, water and air, that’s life on earth Take a look around you, around you, around you Take a look around you, isn’t life grand I'm a little Daisy (tune of: "I'm a Little Teapot") I’m a little daisy Tall and slim (stand on tiptoes) Here are my petals (place hands on side of head & wiggle fingers) Here is my stem (hold arms down at sides of legs) When the sun comes up (make sun with arms) And the rain comes down (flutter hands to floor like rain-end in crouching position) I grow, grow, grow - up from the ground! (slowly raise up bring hand over head)

Nature Preschool Has Some Trees (tune of: “Old MacDonald Has a Farm”) Nature Preschool has some trees, E I E I O Some of those trees are maple trees, E I E I O With a samara seed here, and a samara seed there, here a seed, there a seed, everywhere a samara seed Some of those trees are maple trees, E I E I O Oak tree: acorn Catalpa: heart shaped leaf Sycamore: shaggy bark White Pine: five needles Sassafras: 3 different leaves –or– sweet smell Poison Ivy (tune of: “Frere Jacques”) Poison ivy, poison ivy Makes me itch, makes me itch Shiny leaves of three, shiny leaves of three Stay away, stay away! The Tree Song (tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”) Roots, trunk, branches, leaves, branches, leaves Roots, trunk, branches, leaves, branches, leaves All this started from a tiny little seed Roots, trunk, branches, leaves, sap inside! (Use appropriate hand signals to indicate tree parts)

7

Seasons • Autumn

Autumn is Here (tune of: “Have You Ever Seen a Lassie”)

The leaves are really changing And changing and changing The leaves are really changing For autumn is here

See red leaves and brown leaves And green leaves and gold leaves The leaves are really changing For autumn is here

Autumnal Equinox Song (tune of “Farmer in the Dell”) It’s the first day of fall, the first day of fall It is the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall

We’ll jump in some leaves; we’ll jump in some leaves It is the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall

**Add verses with other fall activities

The Leaves are Falling Down (tune of: "Farmer in the Dell")

The leaves are falling down, the leaves are falling down Red, yellow, green, and brown, the leaves are falling down

**We sing this while holding hands in a circle around a tree, like “Ring Around the Rosie”

Oh, Fall Is Here! (tune of: "Oh, Christmas Tree”)

Oh, fall is here. Oh, fall is here And wintertime is coming The squirrels get ready. Yes, they do They gather nuts to get them through The wintertime, cold wintertime It’s fall and winter’s coming

**Repeat the song, each time replacing the third and fourth lines above with a different verse below: The ducks get ready. Yes, they do They migrate south to get them through

The bears get ready. Yes, they do They look for dens to get them through

The deer get ready. Yes, they do They grow thick coats to get them through

• Winter Dance Like Snowflakes (tune of "Frere Jacques") Dance like snowflakes, dance like snowflakes In the air, in the air Whirling, twirling snowflakes, whirling, twirling snowflakes Here and there, here and there Itsy-Bitsy Snowflake

(tune of “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider) The itsy-bitsy snowflake fell down from the sky It landed on my nose and it bounced upon my eye It slid down to my chin and it landed on my tongue Then it melted all away, my snowflake song is done! Snow Fun (tune of “Have You Ever Seen a Lassie”) Oh, I wish that it was snowing, was snowing, was snowing Oh, I wish that it was snowing, then I’d ride my sled I’d ride this way and that way, and this way and that way Oh, I wish that it was snowing, then I’d ride my sled **Additional ideas: build a fort, shovel a path, build a snowman, eat an icicle Winter Animals (tune of: “Where is Thumbkin”) Where is the spring peeper Where is the spring peeper Here I am, Here I am Time to brumate Time to brumate Until spring, until spring **Additional verses: Opossum: find some food Woodchuck: hibernate White-tailed deer: keep moving Hummingbird: migrate Ladybug: find a warm place Otter: slide on ice

Winter Clothing Song (tune of “Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes) Boots, hat, mittens, scarf Mittens, scarf Boots, hat, mittens, scarf, Mittens, scarf Shoes and socks and coat and sun Keep us warm for winter fun, winter fun!

• Spring Maple Syrup (Tune of: “Frère Jacques”) Maple syrup, maple syrup Tastes so sweet, tastes so sweet It starts as sap, it starts as sap In a maple tree, in a maple tree Vernal Equinox Song (tune of “Farmer in the Dell”) It’s the first day of spring, the first day of spring It is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring We’ll look for wildflowers, we’ll look for wildflowers It’s is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring! **Add verses with other fall activities

1

Stewardship The Earth is Good to Me (tune of “Johnny Appleseed”) Oh, the Earth is good to me And so I thank the Earth For giving me the things I need: The sun and the rain and the apple seed The Earth is good to me! The Earth is Our Home (tune of “Farmer in the Dell”) The Earth is our home, the Earth is our home For people and for animals, the Earth is our home Let’s keep our home clean, let’s keep our home clean For people and for animals, let’s keep our home clean The Earth has habits, the Earth has habitats Woods, meadows, rivers, ponds, the Earth has habitats

2

Miscellaneous Snack Song (tune of: “Yankee Doodle”) Thank you for the wind and rain and sun and pleasant weather Thank you for this food we share and that we are together Make a Circle (tune of "Oh My Darling, Clementine") Make a circle, make a circle, make a circle like the sun Everybody make a circle, make a circle like the sun. Can You Move With Me (tune of “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”) Can you wiggle like a worm, can you squiggle, can you squirm Can you flutter, can you fly like a gentle butterfly Can you crawl upon the ground like a beetle that is round Can you move with me? Can you flip, can you flop, can you give a little hop Can you slither like a snake, can you give a little shake Can you dance like bee, who is buzzing round a tree Can you move with me? Rain Fun (tune of “Have You Ever Seen a Lassie”) Oh, I wish that it was raining, was raining, was raining Oh, I wish that it was raining, then I’d jump in puddles I’d jump this way and that way, and this way and that way Oh, I wish that it was raining, then I’d jump in puddles **Additional ideas: play in mud, gather water, wear my rain boots

3

Rain, Rain, Please Don’t Go Away (tune of: “Rain, Rain, Go Away) Rain, rain please don’t go away Plants and trees need to grow today! **substitute “kids” for “trees” to get the kiddos laughing! May There Always be Sunshine adapted by Jim Gill May there always be sunshine May there always be blue skies May there always be families May there always be me! Golden Star Sun (tune of: “Mister Sun”) Sun, sun, golden star sun, please shine down on me Sun, sun, golden star sun, hiding behind the tree These little children are asking you To please come out so they can play with you Oh, sun, sun, golden star sun, please shine down on Won’t you shine down on, please shine down on me! Unhuggables Song (tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

The toad lives in the woods, his tongue is oh, so long It reaches out to catch a fly, and croaks a noisy song

Oh, snakes slither around, up in trees or on the ground They don’t even chew their food, just gulp (sound) and it goes down

Oh, squiggly, wiggly worms, make tunnels in the ground Squiggly, wiggly, giggly worms, are squirming all around

The salamanders are shy, under the rocks, they’ll hide They love to eat the wiggly worms, and then they skip and hide

A squishy slug will slime, whatever it may climb Mushy, squishy, slimy slugs, will slime you every time

The spider spins a web, she spins it round and round She wraps her food with silken thread, before she slurps it down

Bats fly at night, some people get a fright But bats want insects to eat, so, you they will not bite

Skunks have black and white tails, don’t scare them, ‘cause if you do They’ll lift their tails, and you will wail, “Pee-ew, pee-ew, pee-ew!”